Travis Pastrana's Dodge Dart: Quicker Than an F1 Car

We've recently road tested the Dodge Dart, but an embargo prevents us from divulging the compact sedan's driving dynamics... so in the meantime, let's take a closer look at the car's evil twin, a rollcage-equipped alter ego that serves as the ultimate halo vehicle for the humble compact sedan.

The race car, which is very loosely based on the Dart, will compete in Global RallyCross, an Americanized version of rally racing which premiered at the X Games in 2010. Boasting more than three times the engine output of the most powerful civilian Dart, the rally car houses a purpose-built, 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that churns 600 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque through a Sadev all-wheel drive system. Thanks to a stunning 0-60 time of 1.9 seconds, this high-strung little animal is quicker-- at least to 60-- than an F1 car.

This high-powered, all-wheel drive bit of four-wheeled insanity will be piloted by Travis Pastrana, the four-time Rally America champion who made his name in the supercross and motocross arena but is famous for saying "With age, get a cage," following numerous injuries and countless broken bones. The maxim is just a tad ironic, considering the car-rolling, tree-slamming realities of rally racing.

Global RallyCross's first event will run at the May 26th NASCAR Spring Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the Dodge Dart hits showrooms this June.

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